Chen Chang Sheng didn’t inform Tang Thirty-Six of the changes to his body, nor did he tell of the Star Brilliance’s transition into True Essence; he had no wish to experience that inferno of despair again.
That plain of snow, for him, had become akin to the age of twenty, it had become a shadow upon his heart that could not be castoff, able to make him panic to the point of gasping for air.
How could he ensure that the snow plain will remain undisturbed? By not disturbing it; by avoiding meditative introspection; by avoiding thoughts of it; better yet, by completely forgetting it. Alas, completely shutting it off in his mind was something hard to achieve, especially when he thought of how the vast snow plain was composed entirely of Star Brilliance; if it were to all transform into True Essence, how much could it produce?
He forlornly said: “The feeling of being wealthy is good.”
“I don’t feel anything,” said Tang Thirty-Six.
“That’s because you’ve had wealth since you were young,” replied Chen Chang Sheng.
“Maybe,” Tang Thirty-Six said, conceding the point after considering for a while.
Chen Chang Sheng continued: “But the feeling of having wealth, yet not being able to spend it, isn’t very good.”
Tang Thirty-Six sympathetically replied: “You’re such a hick, wait till the Grand Examination is over, I’ll teach you how to spend money.”
The snow plain was Chen Chang Sheng’s abundant accruement, but also a fearsome stack of hay, a single spark could set it alight, and upon its transformation into ashes, he would accompany it into oblivion.
Under these circumstances, anyone with some sense would choose to avoid disturbing it, or adding to the hay stack, Chen Chang Sheng thought differently however, continuing to meditate every night and guiding Starlight into his body. With both hands grasping onto the jade crystals provided by Luo Luo and surrounding his body with the crystals sent by the Wen Shui Tang clan, he showed nary a fear in the world.
Others did not know of his body’s current condition, and thus looked upon this scene with a different interpretation; Tang Thirty-Six, who already respected him greatly, thought to himself that anyone else attempting to Purify for such a long time without success would have long given up, for this fellow to persist to this extent, was a testament to his terrifying will.
Though respect is one thing; he longer held any hope of Chen Chang Sheng being able to place first upon the First Banner in the Grand Examination.
Even the most optimistic of people, would share this view.
Therefore… he became increasingly diligent.
The Proclamation of Azure Cloud’s evaluation, alongside Chen Chang Sheng’s example, both of these things were the reason for his diligence, more importantly however, were Chen Chang Sheng to fail in placing first, he would undoubtedly become a figure for the masses to mock; as his friend, as a student of Orthodox Academy, he had to do something.
Xuan Yuan Po was just as diligent. His right arm had fully recovered and under the guidance of Chen Chang Sheng, he was currently practising a discipline art, resulting in great gains to his strength and boundless vigour. This resulted in misery for the great tree by the lake and the hard bluestone was akin to the fragments of ice on the lake’s surface, constantly shattering.
This peaceful school life was suddenly broken one morning by a lone horse-carriage.
At that time, Tang Thirty-Six was in the midst of a squabble with Xuan Yuan Po, while Chen Chang Sheng was amongst the snow, reciting something unfamiliar.